If you have a pool, you’ll probably agree that one of the least appealing and even most arduous tasks is cleaning it . And not just during the summer months, but all year round, especially if you have a heated pool . But what if we could turn cleaning time into leisure time to make other plans, or simply spend more time enjoying our pool? You’ll be interested to learn about the different types of robotic pool cleaners available!
Fortunately, cutting-edge technology can clean for us, offering a wide variety of devices to get rid of dirt in your pool in no time. Robots are great allies in pool maintenance because they not only help us clean the pool basin and walls , but also help avoid the temptation to drain it at the end of the swimming season, something we strongly advise against for both economic and sustainability reasons.
Keep reading to discover what types of robotic pool cleaners exist and why you won’t be able to live without them!
WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING A POOL CLEANING ROBOT?
There are several factors to consider when choosing a robotic pool cleaner. Therefore, we always recommend carefully reviewing the specifications of each device to ensure it’s perfectly suited to your pool.
- Some devices will clean the bottom, walls, and waterline , while others will only clean the bottom.
- The length and depth of the pool.
- The construction materials of our pool (mosaic, liner, polyester…), the type of lining , and the presence of steps underwater or accessories in the pool basin.
- If you are in the process of building your swimming pool, make sure that the technical plan includes connections for the pool cleaning devices you are going to install, avoiding having to do additional piping work if required.
TYPES OF POOL CLEANING ROBOTS
Let’s now look at them from a more technical and operational perspective. When classifying them, we can divide them into two types: hydraulic and electric . The main difference? Price and level of autonomy . Hydraulic systems are more economical but need to be connected to the pool’s filtration system. Electric systems, on the other hand, operate more autonomously, only needing to be connected to an electrical outlet, not a filter, as they already have their own built-in filter.
Hydraulic suction pool cleaning robots
These types of devices are among the most economical and simplest . They draw their power from the pool’s filtration system , connecting either to the suction inlet or the skimmer, allowing the robot to move on its own. One drawback is that after the cleaning program finishes, the dirt must be removed from the pool filter, as the robot will send it there and to the pre-filter instead of collecting it from within. We have models like the Zodiac MX9 or the Zodiac T3 .
Hydraulic pressure (or pump) pool cleaning robots
Like the previous models, these also draw power from the filtration system, but they connect to the pool’s return line rather than the suction inlets. They operate with an additional pump that creates a water jet , directing it to the device. This allows the robot to move along the pool floor, collecting solid debris in an internal bag that is easy to remove and empty. Their price falls somewhere between that of vacuum robots and the electric models we’ll discuss next. One of the recommended brands of jet-assisted pool cleaners is Polaris , with models like the Polaris 280 and the Polaris Quattro .
Electric pool cleaning robots
Here we’re talking about the most expensive models, but also the most technologically sophisticated, as they’re so intelligent that they calculate the length and width of your pool themselves . They’re plugged into the mains but not into the pool’s filtration system, and they move around the entire pool automatically. Of course, they have a very practical debris collection basket. Depending on the model, some clean both the walls and the bottom, while others only clean the bottom. There’s also a variety of speeds and cleaning programs. We recommend models like the Dolphin Hammer Plus and the Hammer io Active X6 from Maytronics .
